Multiplane traction device



'Api-il 10, 192.8. 1,665,302

A. E. HOLCOMB MULTIPLANE TRACTION DEVICE Filed Dec. 19] 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 1.

April 10, 1928. r 1,665,302

A. E. HOLCOMB MULTIPLANE TRACTION DEVICE Filed DEC. 19, 1921 5 Sheets-Shae: 3

/3 [iii I I V v Q G 2 [Eta-.4. -7 W Q I v 7 7 QZZQZWA April 10, 1928. 1,665,302

A. E. HOLCOMB MULTIPLANE TRACTION DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,665,302 PATENT OFFICE.

TALPHEUSE. HOLCOMB, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO KOEHRING COM- IANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

MULTIIE'LANE TRACTION DEVICE.

Application filed December 19, 1921. Serial No. 523,530.

The present invention comprises a new construction of wheel substitute of the types commonly known as track layers, multiplanes, etc., and involving a portable, endless traction device.

As is well known, wheel substitutes of the above nature are being very commonly used upon large machines such as cranes, concrete mixers, and the like, where a relatively broad tread or traction surface is desired or required for facilitating the portability of the machine.

The primary disadvantages of the above class of traction devices at the present time, are the complicacy of the constructions, the use of forms of shoes going tomake up the endless traction member by which the tendency of clogging by mud or dirt is promoted rather than reduced to a minimum, and the difiiculties incidental to assemblage, emplacement on the machine, and removal relatively to the machine. p

The present invention primarily aims to obviate such disadvantages as above outlined. My endless traction member or multiplane is composed of shoesof a special design connected together pivotally 1n such a way that material will not pass through the joints thereof, andliability of clogging by dirt or soil over which the machine passes is prevented. Furthermore, said shoe cooperates in a very desirable manner with the driving and supporting tumblers about which the traction device passes, so that the driving forces are transmitted to the traction device with a maximum of efiiciency.

Again I utilize specially designed guide and bearing rollers in conjunction with the traction device or member, and provide a mounting for the device upon the machine such that it may be assembled as a unit and handled as such unit for purposes of application or removal relatively to the machine.

In addition to the foregoing, there are other detail advantages obtained in the construction of my traction device or member, as will be more fully presented hereinafter.

in the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a multiplane traction device embodying the invention, certain of the shoes being omitted to more clearly illustrate the tumbler and bearing roller features.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a complete traction unit of the invention.

Figure 3 is a side view partly in section of the driving tumbler, a portion of the end less traction member also being shown.

Figure 4; is a vertical sectional view of one of the tumblers.

Figure 5 is a side view of one of the double guide and bearing rollers.

Figure 6 is a vertical section of said roller.

Figure 7 is a side view of one of the adjusting devices for the bearings at one end of the traction unit.

Figures 8 and 9 are plan and end elevation views of the shoe, many of which constitute the traction member.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of one shoe and a section of another in connected relation.

Figurell is a perspective view of the tread or closing plate of the shoe.

For the purposes of this description I shall characterize my traction device as a whole as a traction unit, comprising primarily the end tumblers acting like sprockets, a traction girder supporting the tumblers and having bearings to connect the unit with axles on the main frame of the machine, and supporting and bearing rollers for the endless tractionv member of the unit. The endless traction member is comprised of a plurality of pivotally connected shoes, each of a special design as shown in Patent No. 1,474,967 issued to F. H. Heine on November 30, 1923.

Referring to the drawings, A. designates the main frame of a large machine equipped with my invention. The propeller shaft for my traction unit is partially shown at B, being mounted in suitable bearings in the frame A and carrying the driving gear 1.

Gear lis in mesh with the propeller gear 2 mounted upon and forming a part of the traction unit now to be described.

Said traction unit comprises the traction girder 3, preferably'made up of channel iron or any suitable reinforced metallic and fabricated structure of suitable strength. The girder 3 is equipped with the bearings l and 5 to receive the axles 6 projecting from the side of the frame A.

At the ends of the girder 3 are mounted tumblers 7 and 8, the former having fixed bearings, whilst the latter has an adjustable bearing 9, adapted to be adjusted by the screw 10 in an obvious manner and for an obvious purpose.

Intermediate the tumblers 7 and 8, are

the main bearing rollers 11 suitably supported in bearings at the lower portion of the girder 3. At the top of the girder are the supporting rollers 12, which support the upper section of the endless traction member generally designated C and made up of in dividual shoes 13. The construction of the tumblers 7 and 8 is best illustrated in- Figures 3 and 4. In these figures itwill be seen that each tumbler comprises a skeleton wheel embodying the hub 7 the spaced diaphragmsl having openings to lighten their construction, and the cross webs 7 which are notched out so as to conform at the notched portions with the shape of teeth or lugs 18 on the shoes 13. Connecting the .diaphragms 7 of each tumbler, in addition to the'webs 7, are cross bearing lugs? Which are of, U shape or hollow form and adaptedto engage. the opposite ends of the lugs 13 of the shoes 13, the sidesiof the lugs fitting into the space of the notched portions ofjthe'webs 7 which radiatefromthe hub 7. The lugs 13 ofthe shoes 18- only partially enter the notchesof the web 7 C as-shown best inFigure3. l

The rollers 11 and 12 are of light construction The functionof the rollers 11 is to constitute, anti-friction bearing devices intermediate the lower partof the girder 3 and the traction member C. Both the rollers 11 and'12 havean additional guiding function for the member C cooperatingin this respect with the tumblers? and 8. The rollers as seen best in Figures 5 and 6 are of double construction comprising, the hub 14 and spaced roller elements. lat, and reinforcing webs 14 connecting the elements 1 1 the whole an integral structure. Removable bushings 15 are provided in the ends of the hub 14-. inthe areas-coincident with and oppositetethebearing peripheries of the rollers11. V

I, shall only. generally describe the shoe shown in Figures- 8 toll inclusive, as this forms'an invention separate from my general traction unit construction, except so far as it cooperates in combination with the parts heretoforeset forth. The shoe comprises the body 13-prcviously mentioned as having the driving-lug 13 cooperative with the tumblers 7; and- 8 and the rollers 11 and 12. At itsends the shoe-13 has the pivot connecting; lugs 16 through which the pintle or connecting-pivotbetween the shoes passes,

V s c and 5 and. also detaching the cap member ot abearing 19 at one end of the frame A, the

last mentioned arrangemei'it permitting the gear 2 to be detached with the traction unit while remaining upon the propeller shaft 20 of the tumbler 7, said shaft being driven from the gear 1 and its motion being trans mitted to the idle shaft 21 on which the tumbler 8 iscarried.

It will be noted that the peripheries of the wheel members 14 of the rollers 11 and 12 bear against the smooth inner surfaces of the shoes 13 at opposite sides of the teeth or lugs 18. In like manner the peripheries of the diaphragms 7* of the tumblers 7 and 8v cooperate with the shoes 13.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.111 endless traction structure of the class described, the combination of a main frame, axles on the main frame, a traction unit detachably mounted on the axles, an

axlecarriedby the traction unit detachably connected to the main frame, and-a driving connection between the traction unitand frame associated with tl'ie'last-mnned axle.

2. A traction unit of the class described comprising, in combination, an endless traction member having shoes formedwith projecting lugs and-tumblers carrying the traction member, each of the tumblers consisting of a hub,spaced diaphragms on the hub, Webs connecting the diaphrag ns and cross lugs also connecting the diaphragms and cooperating with the webs to provide rccesses which receive the lugs onthe endless traction member.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

ALPHEUS E. HOLCOMB. 

